Answers to Prayer

1 For the first time there are now Azeri churches and possibly 2,000 Azeri believers in the country

2 A decade of relative freedom for the gospel despite opposition

Challenges for Prayer

1 Azerbaijan's political situation is complex and potentially dangerous

2 Christianity is associated with Russian imperialism and Armenian occupation of much of Azeri territory

3 Azerbaijani believers continue to increase in number. Pray for the maturing of upcoming Azeri leaders, their growth in ministry and for good fellowship among them

4 The majority of Christians are Russian-speaking or from other ethnic minorities

5 Nagorno-Karabakh and its surrounding area is almost entirely Armenian

6 Expatriate Christians have difficulty obtaining visas, but a number are seeking to live for the Lord through secular openings and NGO projects

7 The Unreached:

a) Most of the Azerbaijani towns and villages have never been evangelized

b) In 2000 there were still 600,000 homeless and largely unemployed refugees from Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh

c) The Caucasus peoples are almost all Muslim and unevangelized

d) The Indo-Iranian speaking minorities of Tat, Talysh and Kurds are unreached

8 Christian help ministries

a) Christian literature

b) Bible translation

c) Christian radio

d) The JESUS film is available in Avar, N. Azeri, Kurmanji, Lezgi, Russian and Talysh

Geography

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Area 86,600 sq.km. Caucasian republic on the Caspian Sea, including a 5,632 sq.km. enclave, Nakhichevan, between Armenia and Iran, and the disputed 4,400 sq.km. region of Nagorno-Karabakh currently controlled by Armenia.

Population (2000) 7,734,015 +0.45%AGR

Capital Baku 1,946,000.

Peoples

Turkic 89%; Indo-European 6.6%; Caucasus peoples 3.4%; Indo-Iranian 1%.

Literacy 97%. Official language Azerbaijani (with 20 dialects). All languages 16. Languages with Scriptures 2Bi 6NT 4por 6w.i.p.

Economy

Oil-dominated economy with large reserves under the Caspian Sea. HDI 0.695; 103^rd/174. Public debt 6% of GNP. Income/person $480 (1.6% of USA).

Politics

A long history of subjugation by Arabs, Mongols, Persians, Turks and Russians.

Religion

Official religious freedom is tempered by reaction against 'Christian' Russian and Armenian hostility, and fears of Islamist extremism.

Churches in Azerbaijan

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Internet Links